How to Fix Dryer Glides

Fix the dryer glides to eliminate the noises emitting from the laundry room.

The squeaks and squeals emitting from your dryer are often signs of wear, and attempting to spray away the sounds with a lubricant will not stop the irritating noise coming from the laundry area of your home. These sounds occur when the dryer glides begin to age and wear. Other noises and signs pointing to worn glides include grinding, clanging, brown spots on your clothes, and your clothes catching between the dryer drum and the door. Fixing your dryer glides will stop the noise and avoid additional damage to your clothes.

Locating the Glides

1

Unplug your dryer from the electrical wall outlet for safety. You should never work on any appliance while it is still connected to an electrical current.

2

Open the dryer cabinet. Different dryer makes and models have different disassembly instructions; the most common is explained here.

3

Insert a 2 1/2-inch stiff metal putty knife into the front seam separating the top of the dryer from the cabinet body. Slide your putty knife along the seam until it hits the clip holding the top of the dryer to the cabinet body.

4

Position the putty knife against the front of the clip. Push in on the knife to disengage the clip holding the top to the dryer. Find the second clip on the opposite side of the seam using the same steps as before to disengage the second clip.

5

Lift the top of the dryer up as if opening the lid on a top load washing machine. Lean the top against the wall behind the dryer to support it in the open position.

6

Look inside the dryer cabinet along the top front to find the wire harness connecting the control panel to the dryer door switch. Squeeze the tabs on each side of the harness as you pull the two sides apart.

7

Remove the two screws, one at the top of each front corner, holding the front of the dryer cabinet to the dryer body. Lift up while pulling out on the front of the cabinet to take off the front of the dryer.

8

Turn the front of the dryer cabinet around to locate the lip around the dryer door opening to locate your dryer glides. Depending on your make and model, there are three possible glides, an upper felt glide on the top of the lip, riveted Teflon glides to the left and right of the 6 o’clock position on the lip, or snap-in plastic glides to the left and right of the 6 o’clock position on the lip.

Upper Felt Dryer Glide

1

Peel the old felt glide from the top of the dryer door opening. You may need to slide your putty knife underneath the felt if you cannot grasp it with your fingers.

2

Scrap away any glue and felt residue from the lip with a stiff wire brush. This prepares the surface for the installation of the new felt glide.

3

Apply two or three thin lines of high-heat adhesive, supplied with the replacement felt glide, along the top of the lip. Place the new felt glide on the lip. Use small pieces of tape or small clamps to hold the felt glide in place for about 30 minutes until the glue sets.

4

Replace the front of the cabinet with the new upper felt glide onto the dryer body. Reverse the steps you used to disassemble your dryer to reassemble the dryer. Reconnect your dryer to the electrical outlet.

Snap-In Plastic Glides

1

Position a heavy-duty flathead screwdriver between the plastic glide and the metal bracket connected to the lip of the dryer opening. This may take some effort depending on the wear of the glides. Lift up on the screwdriver handle to pry the plastic glide from the bracket.

2

Insert the wide end of the new plastic glide into the bigger of the two slots on the bracket. Insert the narrow end of the plastic glide into the smaller slot. Push down on the plastic glide to snap it in place on the metal bracket.

3

Install the front of the cabinet with the new plastic glides onto the dryer body. Reverse your disassembly steps to put your dryer back together. Plug your dryer into the electrical outlet.

Riveted Teflon Glides

1

Insert a 1/8-inch drill bit into the chuck of a power drill. Tighten the chuck according to your drill's instructions.

2

Position the tip of the bit against the top of the rivet holding the original Teflon glide to the metal glide bracket along the edge of the dryer opening. Drill through each rivet on the glide, and pull the original glides off the bracket.

3

Slip the ends on the piece of cork into the two slots on the glide bracket. The cork comes with the Teflon glide and installs between the Teflon glide and the bracket. Slip the ends of the Teflon glide into the slots, positioning the Teflon glide on top of the cork.

4

Insert the longer end of one of the rivets, provided with the new Teflon drum glide kit, into a hand-held manual rivet tool. Place the short end of the rivet into the small hole at each end of the glide and through the small hole in the metal glide bracket. Squeeze the rivet tool handles to rivet the new Teflon glide to the bracket.

5

Place the front of the cabinet with the new Teflon glides back onto your dryer body. Reverse each disassembly step, reassembling your dryer. Connect your dryer to the electrical outlet.

About the Author

Cecilia Harsch has been writing professionally since 2009. She writes mainly home improvement, health and travel articles for various online publications. She has several years of experience in the home-improvement industry, focusing on gardening, and a background in group exercise instruction. Harsch received her Certified Nurses Assistant license in 2004. She attended Tarrant County College and studied English composition.